Ben Gray on Sold in CNY, Building a Real Estate Team, and Navigating the Homebuying Process Host Noah Chrysler interviews Central New York real estate professional Ben Gray about his experience creating videos with Good New York, praising the team’s persistence, client care, and ability to tailor a marketing package to his budget. Ben explains his show, “Sold in CNY with Ben Gray” (soldincny.com), which educates the public on buying and selling myths and highlights behind-the-scenes professionals involved in home transactions. He discusses building a team since 2017, scaling through coaching, and teaching agents to use written systems across four pillars: attract, convert, deliver, and scale, noting client outcomes often follow a 20/60/20 pattern. Ben outlines first-time homebuyer steps—use Zillow to gauge affordability, choose an experienced agent or mentored newcomer, get lender pre-approval, tour homes, and manage a ~60-day closing—plus lender traits (teacher mindset and accessibility) and common buyer challenges around compromises and priorities. 00:00 Welcome and Introductions 00:20 Client Experience with Good New York 01:48 Sold in CNY Show Concept 03:06 Educating Buyers and Spotlighting Pros 04:04 Building and Coaching a Real Estate Team 06:36 Systems That Scale Agents 09:13 Who Succeeds and Why 11:18 Team Expansion and Recruiting 14:07 Perks of Joining the Team 15:13 First Time Homebuyer Overview 16:43 Choosing the Right Agent and Lender 17:52 From Preapproval to House Hunting 20:41 Closing Timeline and Common Pitfalls 21:54 Managing Expectations and Must Haves 23:48 How to Contact Ben and Wrap Up

Inside Pound Town Burgers: Randy’s To-Go Model, Scratch Sauces, and Expansion Plans Host Noah Chrysler interviews Randall (“Randy”), founder of Pound Town Burgers in downtown Syracuse, about his to-go focused restaurant model launched in January last year, emphasizing fresh homemade food, cost-effective pricing through buying power, and efficient staffing systems. Randy discusses menu items the team samples—beer-battered onion rings, fried pickles, mac and cheese bites with sweet hot honey, hand-breaded chicken sandwiches, hand-cut fries, bacon cheese fries, tenders over mac and cheese with pound sauce, and scratch-made sauces and cheese sauce. He shares Pound Town’s origin, including early popups, a lawsuit over the name that he won, minimal marketing driven by word-of-mouth, and growth to 30,000–40,000 burgers sold last year. He’s bottling sauces, is top 10 in the New York State Best Burger competition, and is opening locations in Cicero and Auburn, with Auburn featuring rooftop/outdoor space and a shared bar concept. 00:00 Welcome to Pound Town 00:34 To Go Burger Concept 01:46 Appetizers and House Sauces 02:36 Tasting and Onion Allergy 03:31 Bottling Sauces Plans 04:03 Origin Story and Lawsuit 06:43 Recipe Development Process 08:06 What Sets Them Apart 08:59 Community Giving Back 09:52 Food Spread and Chicken Sandwich 11:04 Messy Sandwich Bite 11:37 Hand Cut Fries Secrets 12:57 Efficient Kitchen System 13:49 New Auburn Location Plans 14:44 Bacon Cheese Fries Breakdown 15:26 Top 10 Burger Contest 17:21 Tenders Bowl and Mac 18:45 Where to Find Them 20:00 Owner Leads by Example 20:33 Team Sign Off

Inside the Center for the Arts in Homer: New Spaces, Public Access TV, and Community Partnerships Host Noah Chrysler interviews Ty Marshall, executive director of the Center for the Arts in Homer, New York, about the nonprofit’s multidisciplinary programming, including national touring concerts, live theater, classes, workshops, and community events run seven days a week with support from 200+ volunteers. Ty shares the center’s grassroots origins in a historic former church and highlights major initiatives: a $1.17M Downtown Revitalization Initiative grant to create “Cornerstone” in a nearby former Episcopal church for lectures, youth classes, and performances; development of a recording/production suite and management of Homer Public Access to launch local TV programming; and publication of the twice-monthly Homer News. He discusses community-driven leadership, partnerships such as supporting Cortland County’s poet laureate, local economic impacts, and efforts to help revitalize the Cortland Country Music Park and its museum. 00:00 Welcome and Introductions 00:34 What the Center Offers 01:28 First Visit Highlights 02:35 Origins and Volunteers 03:48 Cornerstone Expansion Plans 05:05 Studio and Public Access TV 07:14 Homer News and Local Media 08:30 Leadership Lessons and Community Listening 09:59 Partnership Example Poet Laureate 11:37 Advice for New Nonprofits 14:35 Impact on Local Economy and Connection 17:57 How to Volunteer 18:45 Country Music Park Revival 23:15 Community Support and Closing Thanks

Syracuse Maker Fair Preview: eSports, Cosplay, Robotics, and Community Creativity Host Noah Chrysler interviews Pauline Lynch Shostak and Jonathan (John Hur) from Maker Fair Syracuse about the event as a “world’s greatest show-and-tell” where Central New York makers share creations ranging from blacksmithing and retro games to robotics and cosplay. They discuss what defines a “maker,” growth from 80 makers/1,200 attendees in year one to 144 makers this fifth year, and the impact on students who present projects. New this year are an eSports Smash Brothers tournament (17 and under) with free play, a bike-repair co-op exhibit encouraging attendees to ride in, expanded cosplay partnering with NOCO Con, and an indoor “Science Museum on Wheels” physics bus due to a larger venue. They mention exhibits like Lego League and FIRST robotics, a remote-control La-Z-Boy, Harry Potter props, and Star Wars costumers. The fair is May 2 at the New York State Fairgrounds, Center of Progress Building, with tickets at syracuse.makerfair.com/tickets. 00:00 Welcome and Guests 00:33 What Is Maker Fair 01:32 What Makes a Maker 02:34 New This Year 04:04 How Big It’s Gotten 04:33 Kids Showing Their Work 05:59 Wild Past Highlights 07:13 This Year’s Must Sees 11:00 Maker Culture Evolves 14:10 Star Wars Cosplay Buzz 15:08 Tickets and Details 17:14 Closing Thanks

Syracuse Fashion Week Coordinator Zoe Fransimone on Shows, Tickets, and Getting Involved Host Noah Chrysler interviews Zoe Fransimone, a coordinator for Syracuse Fashion Week, a nonprofit partnered with the Food Bank of CNY that began in 2014 and now runs three shows twice a year (fall and spring). Zoe outlines the current week’s events: a sold-out Spring Fling streetwear show at 7:00 PM at the Jefferson Clinton Hotel, a Gala show at Mohegan Manor in Beeville at 7:30 with a few tickets left, and a sold-out Saturday Underground cabaret-themed show at Mohegan Manor at 8:00; Friday also has very limited tickets. She explains the themes, discusses her background in modeling and makeup, shares local fashion tips and shop recommendations (The Cherry Pit, La Veranda, Boom Babies), and describes how aspiring models, designers, and makeup artists can get involved by reaching out. Tickets and info are at syracusefashionweek.com and Syracuse Fashion Week on social platforms. 00:00 Welcome to Good News York 00:16 What Is Syracuse Fashion Week 01:04 Show Dates and Venues 01:38 What to Expect at Shows 01:56 Themes Spring Gala Underground 03:41 Zoe's Fashion Journey 06:37 Style Tips for Syracuse 08:23 Best Local Shops to Visit 09:52 How to Get Involved 11:33 Contact and Next Season Timing 12:47 Mission Inclusivity and Food Bank 14:30 Tickets and Where to Follow 15:01 Closing Thanks and Sign Off

Hanah Ehrenreich on the Storytelling With Children Festival (May 17) at The MOST in Syracuse Host Noah Chrysler interviews Hanah Ehrenreich, festival organizer and a Syracuse common councilor, about the free Storytelling With Children Festival on May 17 at The MOST in Syracuse, created to address a literacy crisis by giving kids a “why” through imagination and oral storytelling. The day includes a sensory-friendly hour with deaf storytellers using ASL, performances by storytellers and authors including Bruce Coville, Vanessa Johnson, Perry Ground (Onondaga Turtle clan), Christine Darrow, and Paul Solan, plus activity stations like an illustration workshop led by Sue Ketter. Author and folklorist Adam Gidwitz will record a live, kid-participatory “Syracuse fairytale” for the Grim Grimmer Grimace podcast; his sessions are the only ticketed portion, with VIP meet-and-greet options. An adult-focused panel, “The Art and Industry of Storytelling,” will be held at 7 PM at Parthenon Books. Info is on Facebook and Instagram. 00:00 Welcome to Good News York 00:28 Why Storytelling Matters 02:18 Festival Schedule and Highlights 03:16 Grimm Tales with a Twist 05:49 How Hanah Got Started 07:18 Kids as Co Storytellers 08:47 Storytelling for Adults Too 12:27 Favorite Childhood Stories 14:52 Storytelling Tips and Impact 18:51 Access Food and Festival Vision 21:10 Where to Learn More 21:31 Closing Thanks and Sign Off

Good News York: McMahon Ryan Child Advocacy Center & the Pinwheel Ball Matt Masur hosts Good News York from Clickstream Studios’ new facility with guests Erin Bates, executive director of the McMahon Ryan Child Advocacy Center, and Catherine Alton, board member and 2024 Pinwheel Ball chair. They explain McMahon Ryan’s role as Onondaga County’s child advocacy center, coordinating a multidisciplinary, trauma-informed team to investigate child abuse reports and support children and families, while also providing short-term therapy and making referrals when needed. They highlight proactive outreach and education delivered by a six-person team reaching over 80 schools and more than 26,000 children. The episode promotes their major fundraiser, the black-tie Pinwheel Ball at the Oncenter with live music, auctions, and a live event painting, plus other ways to support including online auctions, raffles, pinwheel gardens, and upcoming events, with details at mcmahonryan.org and via social media. 00:00 Welcome to Good News York 00:30 Meet the Guests 01:04 What McMahon Ryan Does 01:41 How Cases Reach Them 03:07 Trauma Informed Support 04:30 Prevention Outreach in Schools 05:10 Therapy and Service Area 06:22 Pinwheel Ball Preview 07:36 Auctions and Big Ticket Items 08:57 Tickets Dress Code Details 10:33 More Ways to Support 12:34 Pinwheels and Social Media 13:57 How to Get Help 14:45 Closing Thanks and Sign Off

Former Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh on Leading the New York State Canal Corporation and the Modern Erie Canal System Matt Maier hosts the first episode filmed in Good News York’s new downtown Syracuse space and welcomes former Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh, now director of the New York State Canal Corporation. Walsh recounts his Syracuse roots, family tradition of public service, eight years as mayor, and passing leadership to Mayor Owens, his former deputy mayor. He explains the Canal Corporation’s role managing a modern, 524-mile, four-canal system (Erie, Champlain, Seneca, Oswego) with 57 locks, lift bridges, trails, recreation, limited commercial shipping, and significant infrastructure maintenance needs, including deferred maintenance and capital priorities. Walsh describes winter work, workforce support, partnerships, and efforts to promote the canal as a world-class linear park. He highlights upcoming navigation season (May 15–Oct 14), events like the Medina Triennial, Albany Symphony canal performances, and the Seneca Chief “Back to Buffalo” tour, and shares Syracuse water-related gems such as Elmwood Park, Hiawatha Lake, and the Inner Harbor/Creekwalk. 00:00 Welcome to the New Studio 01:01 Meet Former Mayor Ben Walsh 02:23 Passing the Torch to Mayor Owens 03:34 Why the Canal Corporation 04:55 Canal System Explained 06:47 Erie Canal Then and Now 08:00 Modern Uses and Upgrades 09:58 Ben Walsh Day to Day 12:13 Trails and Local Partnerships 13:22 Biggest Canal Surprises 15:53 Events to Watch This Season 18:16 Hidden Gems in Syracuse 20:33 Wrap Up and Thanks